Crazy Theological Thoughts

Without Christ do we see Christ in the Old Testament?  Many people have taught that with Christ you can not understand the New Testament.  But is not the goal of the New Testament to proclaim Christ.  Likewise, is not the goal of the Old Testament to proclaim Christ.  So If I already have Christ, why would I need it proclaimed to me? Quick answer would be because I am still a sinner.  The long answer is because we need to better understand what God has done for us, and what God has designed us to do.  But can scripture really be opened to me if I do not have Christ.  All prophecy finds its yes in Christ. Christ is the fulfillment of all the Law and the Prophets. If Christ is the fulfillment of all scripture, then it is like starting with the answer and working back through the various questions.  I can better understand the question, which is far over my head when someone gives me the proper answer.  Think of the times when will ask...

I am starting to realize that the Formula of Concord is both a blessing and a curse for modern Lutheran discussions.  Answering questions about predestination and election while also talking about the third use of the Law.  Is it the doctrine of inspiration and inerrancy that separates Lutherans or is it the Formula itself? The Formula was a document that allowed for Lutheranism in Germany to survive, the assaults of Rome.  The Pope even thought if it was not for the second the Martin, Lutheranism would have fallen.  But has Lutheranism not already fallen in America? American Lutherans have long struggled with issues they have faced on this continent and in this modern age that Lutherans previously did not face.  But I would argue that Lutherans have not done this united and together because these various backgrounds have never been fully united. I hear people talk about confessional Lutheranism, but do they mean Luther's confession or the Bock of ...

Realized a new way of talking today?  The Law describes who we are supposed to be or ought to be.  In our fallen condition we are in a state of seeing the Law as we ought to be.  When God created everything perfect Adam and Eve were as they were designed to be.  This is the so called "is" state.  The Law does not describe who they ought to be but who they "is". But after the fall the Law describes who we ought to be or how we ought to act.  Maybe even to take it to another level it describes who we are no longer.  As fallen creatures we "is not" who we are supposed to be.  We are in a fallen state. Thus, when Christ returns the Law will once again describe who we "is".  The will either describe us as completely sinners abandoned to Hell with the Devil.  Or it will describe us as perfect being who we are supposed to be with God in the new creation. Though I would not go so far to equate the "is" with being a saint and the ...

The question is simple: Is a Pastor called to serve a community or a congregation?  Most would agree a Pastor is called by a congregation.  But is called to serve that congregation or the community in which said congregation dwells. Most of the time a congregation acts like the Pastor is supposed to be the local evangelist.  Other times it is the pastors job to make sure our congregation has a good image in he community.  But why do congregations call a pastor?  Is it simply so that the community has someone to marry and bury people? God established an office for the congregation.  Pastors are supposed to shepherd the people of the congregation in which they have been called.  They are to lead them away from destructive or desolate places.  They are supposed to feed them with good pasture lands.  They are to ward off the various enemies that could hurt or harm them. So does that mean they have to dress them up so that they look good for ...

For years people have been translating the word assembly as Church.  I have wondered for a while now why?  People talk about belonging to the church down the street or the one in country.  But nobody belongs to that building or structure.  Let the roof collapse and furnace go out, because that seems to be what people put their trust in. People do not seem to understand that being a part of the body of believers, is about being joined together.  An assembly does not rise or fall because of one person.  An assembly is not destroyed by distance or language.  An assembly stands because of what unites it.  Someone once talked about blood being thicker than water.  The assembly, which the bible speaks of, is a family held together by blood. This is not a church nor a synagogue nor a temple.  It is a family held together by God, it's Father.  This may not be the way everyone views the people of God.  But it is important to remembe...

One of the greatest issues facing the Lutheran Church today, is the Sanctity of Scripture.  The Lutheran Church in part has fallen from trust in the word of God.  There are many Lutherans in this millennia who do not believe the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments to be the true Word of God without error.  Most people in the postmodern world no longer believe in absolute truth. The Word of God speaks absolutely about the truth which God proclaims.  God has given us absolute truth.  He has proclaimed it concerning his Son, but also concerning social issues.  God has taught us about Homosexuality, Abortion, the Death Penalty, and even the position of Women in the Church. Lutheranism seems to have stepped back from proclaiming this truth.  It has no longer looked at the world with biblical glasses.  It looks at the Bible itself with Worldly glasses.  If the Lutheran Church does not stand firm on this issue how can it...

Most of us think of confession in bad way.  We think this means confessing our sins before one another as St Paul does teach.  We read about people coming to John the Baptist confessing their sins.  But we have lost sight of confession.  Confess your faith in Jesus Christ. Sure you may read the Creed and call it confession.  You may study the Book of Concord and call it confession.  But all you are doing is studying.  It is important to learn.  But it is also important to confess this faith. Most of us were taught to confess our sins in both words and actions.  We confess by telling others, and by our actions.  If I sin and continue with no change in my sinful pattern did I really confess my sins.  If I say I believe but there is no change in behavior or deed, do I truly confess my faith.  Their lips speak but their hearts are far from me.  Let us praise God by confessing him with both our lips and deeds.  Thank y...

I recently came across William Humes draft of A Four Year Lectionary.  His concerns are valid.  His Lectionary appears very nice on the surface.  I have not dived into it too deep.  He has chosen to take the RCL, pull out the Lections from John, and follow lectio continua for the most part.  He has focused on lectio continua with great emphasis. Humes does have a good intention by spreading the Passion accounts throughout the season of Lent.  He does not look to complete tradition in his lections.  But he has a great similarity to the RCL.  He still follows the pattern of using Acts instead of the Old Testament Lesson during Easter.  He also follows probably one of my greatest pet-pevs, the Gospel Lesson as the controlling Lesson.  He does avoid Synoptic Reductionism. Humes has used the basic theory of Adding an additional Year allows for more texts.  I would be interested in finding out the statistics for his Lectionary.  ...